Westrail N class

Westrail N class
250px
N1879 & N1871 at Bunbury Harbour
in December 1986
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Comeng, Bassendean
Model CE618
Build date 1977-1979
Total produced 11
Specifications
Configuration:
 ​
 • AAR C-C
 • UIC Co-Co, Co′Co′
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length 17.09 m (56 ft 1 in)
Width 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
Axle load 17.7 t (17.4 long tons; 19.5 short tons)
Loco weight 106 t (104 long tons; 117 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 4,000 litres (880 imp gal; 1,100 US gal)
Prime mover Alco 12-251CE
Aspiration Turbocharged
Cylinders 12
Train brakes N: Vacuum
NA/NB: Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed 105 km/h (65 mph)
Power output 1,790 kW (2,400 hp)
Tractive effort 282 kN (63,000 lbf) (starting)
240 kN (54,000 lbf) (continuous)
Career
Operators Westrail
Number in class 11
Numbers N1871-N1881
First run 5 December 1977
Current owner Australian Locolease
Greentrains
Disposition 2 stored, 9 scrapped

The N class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Comeng, Bassendean for Westrail between 1977 and 1979.

History

N1879 at Bunbury in December 1986

Eleven were built all for use on the Western Australian narrow gauge network, primarily to haul mineral trains in the south east.[1] Between July 1982 and June 1983, the first four members of the class had their vacuum brake equipment replaced with Westinghouse air brake systems, and were redesignated as the NA class. While liked by crews for their ride quality and power, they suffered from reliability problems and most were withdrawn in the early 1990s. The last were withdrawn in 1997.[2][3][4]

In January 1995 two of the NA class were converted to standard gauge using bogies from Mount Newman Alco M636s, and redesignated as the NB class. In February 1998 these two were sold to Austrac Ready Power, Junee.[2][5] These were sold in 2004 to Patrick Port Link, Adelaide and again in September 2011 to Australian Locolease who redesignated as the 18 class and leased them to El Zorro for use in Victoria.[6][7][8]

Austrac also purchased NA1874 but it was sold without use to South Spur Rail Services in 2001 and converted for standard gauge operation in January 2006. It was scrapped in 2014.[2][6][9][10]

Status table

Loco NoRevised NoBuilders NoEntered ServiceStatus
N1871C-6099-0105 Dec 1977Converted to NA1871 1982
NA187129 Dec 1989Scrapped 1994
N1872C-6099-0220 Aug 1977Converted to NA1872 1983
NA187216 Jun 1983Converted to NB1872 1994
NB1872Sep 2011Renumbered to 1872 2011
1872Jan 1995Stored South Dynon Locomotive Depot[6]
N1873C-6099-0317 Nov 1977Converted to NA1873 1982
NA187309 Nov 1982Converted to NB1873 1994
NB1873Dec 1994Renumbered to 1873 2011
1873Sep 2011Stored Islington Railway Workshops[6]
N1874C-6099-0430 Nov 1977Converted to NA1874 1982
NA187415 July 1982Scrapped 2014[6]
N1875C-6099-0515 Feb 1978Scrapped 1994
N1876C-6099-0609 Aug 1978Scrapped 1997
N1877C-6099-0727 Sep 1978Scrapped 1997
N1878C-6099-0822 Dec 1978Scrapped 1994
N1879C-6099-0922 Dec 1978Scrapped 1994
N1880C-6099-1010 Jan 1979Scrapped 1997
N1881C-6099-1126 Jun 1979Scrapped 1994

References

  1. ↑ Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3: 1967-1977. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 215–219. ISBN 9781877058905.
  2. 1 2 3 Westrail N / NA / NB classes Westrail Alcos 9 March 2002
  3. ↑ Oberg, Leon (2008). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Sydney: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 383. ISBN 9781877058547.
  4. ↑ N Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  5. ↑ "Westrail Motive Power Coming and Going" Railway Digest April 1998 page 14
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Australia Wide Fleet List 2014" Motive Power issue 96 pages 65, 67
  7. ↑ NB Class (WA, diesel) Railpage
  8. ↑ 18 Class Vicsig
  9. ↑ NA Class (diesel, South Spur) Railpage
  10. ↑ 1874 Vicsig

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